‘Modi surname’ defamation case: Nearly a month after senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted in the ‘Modi surname’ defamation case, a Surat court is likely to pronounce its verdict today (April 20) to stay his conviction. Notably, an adjournment order could also lead to Gandhi’s reinstatement as a Member of Parliament.
On 13 April, the additional sessions court in Surat reserved its verdict on Gandhi’s application for 20 April, pending his appeal against a lower court order that sentenced him to two years in prison in the case . Gandhi had earlier argued that the trial court misbehaved with him after being overly influenced by his position as an MP.
Meanwhile, Gandhi’s counsel argued before the court that the trial was “unfair” and that the maximum punishment was not warranted in the case. Gandhi said in his application that his reputation would suffer irreparable damage if the March 23 judgment of the trial court was not set aside and stayed. He said the higher sentence violated relevant legal provisions and was inappropriate in the present case, which had strongly political connotations.
What did Rahul Gandhi say on his sentence?
Gandhi termed his sentence as “erroneous” and “clearly perverse” and said that the trial court treated him harshly after being overly influenced by his position as an MP.
“Considering his status as a Member of Parliament, the harsh treatment meted out to the appellant at the stage of determination of sentence, therefore, with far reaching implications must have been within the wisdom of the trial court,” he added.
The Congress leader said that he was sentenced in such a way as to attract the disqualification order as the trial court was well aware of his status as an MP. Opposing his plea, complainant Gujarat MLA Purnesh Modi told the court that Gandhi is a repeat offender and has several criminal defamation proceedings pending against him in various courts across the country.
Surat court sentences Rahul Gandhi to 2 years in jail
It should be mentioned here that a court in Gujarat’s Surat sentenced Congress leader Gandhi to two years in jail in a criminal defamation case filed against him in 2019 over his “Modi surname” remark. He said this while addressing a rally in Kolar, Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Notably, a complaint was lodged against his remarks by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi. Against Gandhi for his alleged “How can all thieves be surnamed Modi?” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Purnesh Modi filed the case under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.
On 3 April, Gandhi moved the sessions court against the lower court’s order. His lawyers also filed two applications, one for a stay of sentence and the other for a stay of conviction pending disposal of the appeal.
Read also: Temporary relief to Rahul Gandhi in Modi surname defamation case Surat court said this
The order was reserved for April 20
While granting bail to Gandhi, the court issued notice to complainant Purnesh Modi and the state government on their plea to stay the conviction. It heard both the sides on Thursday last week and reserved the order for April 20.
He said that the manner in which Gandhi came to file his appeal showed “extraordinary arrogance” and “a very dirty display of childish arrogance and an immature act of pressuring the court”. Several Congress leaders accompanied Gandhi when he went to file his appeal.
He also accused him of making “unwarranted and contemptuous remarks” against the court through his colleagues, associates and leaders of his party and others after his conviction.
(With PTI inputs)